1996: April 27-May 3

30 April 2016

Ray grabs Gold again!A Current Affair host Ray Martin has won his fifth Gold Logie — and now an unprecedented four in a row — and has lashed out at his critics, specifically media commentator Phillip Adams and Media Watch host Stuart Littlemore. “Gee, Phillip Adams is going to be upset now, and there’ll be no Christmas cards from him or Stuart Littlemore,” Martin said in his acceptance. Both Adams and Littlemore were critical of ACA in recent times, in particular over the show’s reporting on unemployed teenagers the Paxtons. Martin also defended his award in the face of its critics. “There is an ongoing criticism of shows that rate or people or programs who get these awards,” he said. “I thought TV was about being a popular medium. That doesn’t mean we don’t do an interview with the Prime Minister, but, nevertheless we’ve got to do something that people like. Programs such as Blue Heelers, Burke’s Backyard and 60 Minutes are world-class programs and I don’t think we should apologise for them.”

Speechless!
Silver Logie winner, Blue Heelers star Lisa McCune said she had never prepared an acceptance speech, fearing it would jinx herself. “Speeches? I think they’re bad luck and I kind of like to think that they should be spontaneous,” she told TV Week. She dedicated her win to the cast and crew of Blue Heelers, but was mortified to later realise she had failed to mention former cast member Grant Bowler. Meanwhile, former Home And Away star Dieter Brummer collected the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor for the second year in a row. In his acceptance speech he paid special tribute to his ex-girlfriend, even though he has since been linked to another woman. “We had a lot of great times together and she’s been a major influence in my career,” he said. “I figured why not thank her, because without her support, who knows what may have happened?”

Ray’s Logies laugh
“Ray Martin act… I’d like to see that,” said Blue Heelers star John Wood. And with that introduction, the Logies audience was treated to Martin playing a policeman alongside Blue Heelers‘ Lisa McCune. Viewers also got to see some other unusual pairings — including Gladiators‘ Vulcan hosting current affairs program Sunday, and Humphrey B Bear joining The Movie Show‘s David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz.

Most Popular Series: Home And Away
Most Popular Drama: Police Rescue
Most Popular Light Entertainment Program: Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush
Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality: Daryl Somers (Hey Hey It’s Saturday)
Most Popular Comedy Program: Full Frontal
Most Popular Comedy Personality: Magda Szubanski (Big Girls Blouse)
Most Popular Public Affairs Program: A Current Affair
Most Popular Lifestyle/Information Program: Better Homes And Gardens
Most Popular Sports Program: The Footy Show (AFL)
Most Popular Children’s Program: Agro’s Cartoon Connection
Most Popular New Talent: Nic Testoni (Home And Away)

Most Outstanding Achievement In Drama Production: Blue Murder
Most Outstanding Documentary: Untold Desires
Most Outstanding Achievement In News: “Mururoa Protests”, Nine Network
Most Outstanding Achievement In Public Affairs: “Minor Surgery, Major Risk”, Four Corners
Most Outstanding Achievement In Comedy: Frontline, Episode 7: “Divide The Community, Multiply The Ratings”
Most Outstanding Achievement By A Regional Network: No Time For Frailty (Prime)

Briefly…

Nine‘s recent ratings success with Ray Martin‘s interview special featuring Robin Williams has seen some red faces at Seven. Apparently Seven had done a deal for Williams to be interviewed on the first Witness program with Jana Wendt and to appear on a special hosted by Andrew Denton. But then Seven decided it didn’t have room for the Williams interview in the first Witness show, so the deal was dropped and Williams subsequently appeared on Nine.

Plans for the new aviation drama Big Sky are now back on track with a deal set to be done by producer Southern Star Xanadu with Network Ten. Meanwhile, Peter Phelps is now no longer being considered for the cast, but producers are still keen on Jeremy Callaghan joining Gary Sweet in the project.

Seven‘s Blue Heelers celebrates its 100th episode this week. Cast member Martin Sacks, who has been with the series since day one, is amazed at the show’s success. “When the show started, we all said, ‘Well, let’s see how long this is going to last’. And there have been times we wondered if it would continue,” he told TV Week.

Rumours around the industry indicate that Nine‘s Eddie McGuire is going to join Optus Vision.

ABC‘s long-awaited drama Mercury begins this week. The 13-part series is set in a newspaper office, starring Geoffrey Rush, Victoria Longley, David Roberts, Susan Lyons, Julie Forsyth, Michael Veitch, Robin Ramsay, Sue Ingleton and Ann Burbrook. Guest stars include Robert Grubb, Pamela Rabe and Alan Dale. Although the series is regarded as fictional there are parallels to be found with real life. “It’s about a Sunday broadsheet in an Australian state with a conservative government. You can read what you like into that,” Roberts (pictured) told TV Week.

Sunday:AFL Sunday includes Brisbane Bears versus Fitzroy (1pm, Seven), live from Brisbane, followed by highlights of St Kilda versus Footscray (5pm, Seven) from Waverley Park, Melbourne. In Banjo Paterson’s Man From Snowy River (6.30pm, Nine), Matt (Andrew Clarke) and Danni (Kristie Raymond, pictured) have a major disagreement over his plans to send her to finishing school. Sunday night movies are China Moon (Seven), Roswell (Nine) and A Few Good Men (Ten).

Monday: In Water Rats (7.30pm, Nine), Kevin Holloway’s (Jeremy Callaghan) car is found still with the keys in the ignition at The Gap — a notorious suicide spot; and Goldie (Catherine McClements) is served with court papers seeking to cut off access to her son. Andrew Daddo hosts the special 40 Years Of Comedy (8.30pm, Seven), looking at the history of comedy on Australian television, featuring The Mavis Bramston Show, Fast Forward, Dame Edna Everage and The Naked Vicar Show.

Tuesday: In GP (8.30pm, ABC), a child appears to have the symptoms of conduct disorder. In Blue Heelers (8.30pm, Seven), Mt Thomas police station finally gets the replacement they’ve been waiting for just in time to help them deal with a rodeo cowboy who seems to be sending his young son out to steal.

Thursday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Rob Evans’ (Graham Harvey) job offer to Jo (Emma Harrison) stirs up gossip between Cheryl (Caroline Gillmer) and Marlene (Moya O’Sullivan). In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Summer Bay gets together to pay respects to Michael (Dennis Coard). In the debut episode of Mercury (8.30pm, ABC), a mysterious fax from an unknown source sets the Sunday Mercury’s political reporter on to an investigation that threatens to overturn the inner sanctums of the government.

Friday: In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Chloe (Kristy Wright) bids a sad farewell to her mother. Friday Night Football includes Sydney Swans versus Essendon (7.30pm, Seven), live from Sydney, followed by a delayed telecast of Geelong versus North Melbourne from the MCG.